Skandia Win SOC2020 Corporate Cup 2009

Skandia Win SOC2020 Corporate Cup 2009

Back row L-R: Jon Greer, Jordan Smith, Dave Shears, Avnish Upadhyay, Raja Sarangapani, Nick Rice Front row L-R: Sean Bevis, Marc Boriani, Ben Wythe, Sreedha Swaroop, Neil Farmer

©CricketWorld

Skandia Win SOC2020 Corporate Cup 2009

Jim White (left) with Skandia Captain Ben Wythe (right) and the SOC 2020 Trophy

Skandia Win SOC2020 Corporate Cup 2009

Action from the middle as Adam Gillies (Southern Electric) bowls to Sreeda Swaroop (Skandia)

©Filip Kowalkowski

Skandia Win SOC2020 Corporate Cup 2009

Runners-up Southern Electric Cricket Team Back Row L-R Liam Hunt, Colin Harding, Adam Gillies, Ira Arthur, Colin Evans, Trevor Lockey Front Row L-R Dexter Small, Chris Bullock, Kevan Tate, Ian Rogers, Martin Stark

On a warm and cloudless day at Northwood CC on the Isle of Wight, Skandia beat Southern Electric by nine wickets to win the 2009 ‘Spirit of Commerce’ Corporate 20/20 Cup.

Southern Electric 95-8 (Small 36, Evans 12, Sarangapani 3-16) lost to
Skandia 96-1 (Boriani 44*, Swaroop 24, Harding 1-19) by nine wickets

After a high-speed crossing across the Solent from Southampton to the Isle of Wight and a short walk (or taxi!) up the hill from West Cowes, both teams arrived at the picturesque ground of Northwood CC for the third final of the ‘Spirit of Commerce’ Corporate 20/20 Cup (SOC2020).  After a stretch, a net and warm-up, both teams got down to the business of the cricket at 1pm with Kevan Tate of Southern Electric winning the toss and electing to bat.

Despite being without prolific keeper-batsman Satish Kumar, Southern Electric made a solid start and reached 60 for one off the first 11 overs with Dexter Small making a stylish 36 from 41 balls. His six boundaries raised hopes for a total in the 120-140 region but the introduction of Raja Sarangapani not only put the brakes on but almost brought the innings to an abrupt halt.

As well as the key wicket of Small, one of two smart stumpings by Neil Farmer, Sarangapani’s four over spell of 4-0-19-3 was complimented by the excellent left arm spin of Dave Shears who returned figures of 4-0-11-2.  The clatter of wickets reduced Southern Electric to 70-6 with five overs remaining and it needed double figures from both Colin Evans (12) and Ian Arthur (10) to get Southern Electric up to 95-8 off their allotted 20 overs. 

In reply, Skandia were initially watchful but were afforded the luxury of being able to put away boundary balls to maintain a five-an-over run-rate in the first six overs. Southern Electric’s only wicket was taken in the eighth over as the ever persistent Colin Harding managed to get the impressive Sreedha Swaroop caught hooking for a breezy 24 from 23 balls which left Marc Boriani (44*) and Jon Greer (20*) to guide Skandia home. 

Boriani’s unbeaten and well-played innings included nine boundaries, while Greer brought proceedings to a conclusive end with a superb straight six and two fours as his score came from just 18 balls.

Jim White of CricketWorld® gave thanks to the teams, umpires and scorer and Northwood CC, particularly John and Ash Goldsmith before asking ex-England cricketer Norman Cowans to present SOC 2020 trophy for 2009 to Ben Wythe, captain of Skandia CC.

All players and officials then continued to enjoy the superb food and rum-punch offered by the Donovan Donaldson and the Jamaican Tourist Board and invited travel agents from the Isle of Wight.   A superb day was very well received by teams and players alike and a return to the Northwood club is not far away.

© Cricket World 2009

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